Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Plays Critical Role To Extend Research

Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Supports Research That Drives Industry Innovation

The Florida Cattle Enhancement Board (FCEB) plays a vital role in advancing research and innovation within the Florida cattle industry. By funding projects that address key production and environmental challenges, the Board enables researchers to develop the preliminary data often required to secure larger-scale funding from state and federal agencies.

One such example comes from Dr. Betsy Boughton with Buck Island Ranch, who shared how FCEB funding helped expand their work on wetland grazing research.

“Yes, absolutely, and that’s exactly how it worked for us with the wetland grazing project is we were able to get a short six-month project funded by the Florida Cattle Enhancement Board, and then we used that and leveraged that to get a three-year project that we were able to scale up to 15 wetlands from the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service.”

The initial six-month study, funded by the Florida Cattle Enhancement Board, provided the essential foundation of data needed to demonstrate the project’s potential. That preliminary success allowed the Buck Island Ranch research team to secure a three-year grant from the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS)—expanding the project’s reach and impact.

Dr. Boughton emphasized how crucial this early-stage funding is for research success, particularly when applying for competitive grants from major funding agencies.

“So I think that’s really valuable, and it’s completely accurate that a lot of the bigger grants from the federal government or maybe even from state agencies require some preliminary data to be successful at getting the larger grants.”

The Florida Cattle Enhancement Board’s investment helps ensure that Florida’s cattle industry continues to benefit from science-based solutions that improve sustainability, grazing efficiency, and environmental stewardship. By supporting innovative research like the wetland grazing project, the Board fosters collaboration between producers, scientists, and conservation partners working to strengthen the state’s agricultural future.

Through targeted funding and strategic support, the FCEB continues to make a lasting impact—turning promising ideas into practical advancements that enhance both ranch profitability and ecosystem resilience across Florida’s cattle-producing regions.